BougieBourbonFlower

With the name of the show being The Boy Next World, parallel worlds existing is not what I would consider a plot twist. The problem I have is lackluster cohesion in the plot line that prevented the story from being something truly unique. Again, I enjoyed it, but as a whole, it was too messy to be a truly great show.

I understand and agree with all of that, I'm just saying Mame should have chosen one or the other to keep a better and tighter plot line. Trying to do both the parallel world and Cir's mother being a psychopath was too much, and it made the whole plot a mess. If she had focused on *just* the parallel world aspect, it could have been fleshed out better. We could have had answers about ponytail Cir, and the Cir that was in the holding room, and why Phu was the one to make every Cir a better version of himself. It could have been explored more about the connection between them in every world. But no. We got a hot mess that felt rushed because he had to have a crazy mother and a forced fiancée on top of the parallel world aspect. Personally, I would have loved to explore why Phu is that person to Cir, not just have holding room Cir say it once and we're just supposed to take it at face value. I enjoyed the show a lot, it had a lot of good in it, I just think it could have been better, so I'm a little bummed with how it wrapped.

I'm not trying to be contrary about this, but that's not necessarily true. I had never been kissed at 20, and I didn't have the same chaotic schedule he did since he went to international school, college (double major, apparently), as well as being in the entertainment industry since he was like 11 or some insanity. Actors get far fewer choices in how to act or move than what we perceive. I genuinely think it's because New, and whatever intimacy coordinator was part of it, chose for it to be like that. And because New likes weird angles and chaste kisses for all kissing scenes. Phuwin had better kisses in Never Let Me Go because it was directed better.

I feel like this missed the mark a bit. I enjoyed it, and BossNoeul definitely brought their A game, but it's almost like it needed to be one or the other. It's either an issue with parallel worlds and the chaos that would entail, or it's a truly horrible malicious mother who wants to own her child's life as property and, after finding love, he rebels against her. But trying to do both didn't work out for me. Having one issue, it could have been fleshed out better with more realistic results than the rushed ending we received. Again, acting wise, I think they delivered extremely well for the script they were given, it's just the story being a bit too jumbled because Mame couldn't decide between the two main issues. Also, I need whoever was the costume designer to drop the info on all of Phu's cardigans!

I genuinely think Fai is expecting Wine to leave him. Like, he doesn't want him to, obviously, but given his childhood and the mom admitting she chose him not because she loved him, but so that she would have a reason to come back, etc., Fai is just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Which is gonna break my heart almost as much 💔

I really really hope we get at least another special episode that is a happy ending. I mean, I know in reality not all stories are happy endings, but dayum, I want Jack and Joke to have one! Having the ghost wedding is proof to me that their love is boundless, and especially after all the shit they went through in the series, they deserve it, dangit

-I'm so ready for Faifa's back story! Like, the dinner at Arc and Arm's place, Yotha said he didn't think Fai knew how to love, and then there was a cut to another scene - I straight up thought it was going to be back story, and was so sat for it. I also think Yotha meant it in a way that was more, "he doesn't know how to love one person because he's so kind and generous with literally *everyone* he doesn't know how to focus his attention on the one special person." Though, obviously, we can see the progress of that, Yotha just doesn't know it yet.
-"Not everyone might be born out of love, but everyone deserves beautiful love." Dayum, Gun hitting hard with that line.
-Sleepyhead and quirkyboy! They have nicknames for each other and I'm grinning like a fool!
-Not having English subs on 4.4 was hella frustrating...
-Seeing Faifa want to reject people to change and grow because of Wine is such fantastic character development! Even if he's having an existential crisis about it lol.

Yes! This! It looks horribly cringey to western eyes because it's not something we're familiar with, but Jack ensured Joke would never be alone, even in the afterlife, and it's beautiful. Terribly sad, obviously. But beautiful in it's intentions.

So I know the marriage looks cringe, but the intention behind it is beautiful. It's a Chinese minghun ceremony, or ghost wedding, so that their souls are tied together even if one or both partners have passed. Basically, Jack ensured Joke would never be alone, even in the afterlife.

I can totally see how the western ear finds it odd, but I've gotten so used to Thai nicknames sounding odd to my ears I don't even question it anymore lol. Also, the names Thame and Po were chosen to go together because it is a play on the word tempo. Which I think is so clever ☺️

They are not, no.

Po definitely knows the slang, though - I feel like he knew exactly what he was doing lol

They really made Pepper "Dr. Pepper" during the concert 🤣🤣

I knew I would love this, but I didn't know how much. Top notch on all counts. I am impressed beyond what I expected with not only the story, but the acting, the chemistry, the cinematography, the music, just everything. It will absolutely be something I re-watch on the regular.

First, I would point out that he is being directed on actions and expressions - all actors are interpreting both the script and the directions being given by directors, acting coaches, intimacy coaches, dialect/speech coaches, etc. And since the director wrote it, he is bringing her version to the screen first and foremost.
Second, I can totally understand why you would say that, but for me, it's a lot of microexpressions more than anything else. After being used in such a horrible way by his ex, there is so much trepidation and hesitation. I would probably be the same, honestly. Wanting it all to be real, but fearing that the same thing will happen again. Wanting to trust, but fearing it's all in his mind. For me, he's mostly just extremely shy and introverted. Which makes Thame's boldness that much more over the top lol. But dayum, when ya boy cries, though 😳 Est brings it hard when he cries.

Another person made it a Google Doc and shared it here a while ago, though I don't remember who, unfortunately. Hopefully this link works ☺️

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DWsxA58iyZqZNC2U7DP3h7URwlpMAI9i/view?usp=drivesdk

I don't necessarily mean adult content like NC scenes, etc. Just not school settings. Off was 32 years old in Cooking Crush playing a college student almost a decade younger. I just want them to play adults, with adult jobs, and adult issues. That's part of why I enjoy Moonlight Chicken so much, they are adults navigating relationships (excluding Gemini and Fourth, obviously lol) and problems like money and businesses and such. I'm old enough that I don't want to watch children anymore lol

With so much left to be resolved in a single episode, I fear everything is going to be hella rushed 😑 I mean we have this fight between Cir and Phu, Black clad Cir's cryptic message, Cir's crazy ass mother who demands his strict obedience, the fiancée his mother chose for him, as well as Jin and Wim hopefully getting a resolution. That just feels like it needs 2 episodes not just 1. I know we're supposed to get a special episode, but the storyline itself should resolve during the series, not the special episode, in my opinion.

Hopefully that link works for anybody and everybody! All the thanks and gratitude to the original poster!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DWsxA58iyZqZNC2U7DP3h7URwlpMAI9i/view?usp=drivesdk

The novel was written after the script, so it has the same name. Someone here posted it as a Google Doc, but I don't remember who, unfortunately. I can try to repost it, but since it's not mine I'm not sure if I can.